Lack of gray and green infrastructure in the city’s densest communities, particularly in historically Black Southeast D.C., has led to higher amounts of flooding in those neighborhoods.

“A new University of Maryland study suggests that Washington, D.C.'s most socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods are less equipped to handle runoff from heavy rainfalls made more frequent by climate change,” according to a recent article by Maggie Haslam for Phys.org.
The study found that the city’s densest communities, particularly those in historically Black Southeast D.C., have fewer sewer pipes and lack green and gray infrastructure like permeable pavement, rain gardens, trees, and green roofs to adequately control and absorb the stormwater.
The higher prevalence of impervious surfaces in these neighborhoods creates excess runoff, which then overwhelms the outdated sewer structure, resulting in more frequent and severe flooding. Researchers attribute the disinvestment and infrastructure inequity to “racist planning practices dating to the 19th century that fueled inequitable infrastructure distribution and housing conditions across D.C.”
“The study … is one of the few to look at both above- and below-ground infrastructure through a socioeconomic lens, and the first to do so for the District of Columbia, with the aim of helping city planners funnel infrastructure dollars to neighborhoods most at risk,” Haslam reports.
FULL STORY: Stormwater hits D.C.'s poorest neighborhoods hardest, study finds

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power
The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing
Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths
Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply
New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?
Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas
The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.
City of Madera
City of Santa Clarita
Borough of Carlisle
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Colorado Energy Office
Pima County Community College District
City of Piedmont, CA
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